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Grand Rapids' downtown business district attracts 14 new retail shops

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Grand Rapids' Downtown Development
Authority reports that 14 new businesses have set up shop in the city's
downtown in the last eight months. A strategy to market the downtown to
even more businesses, citing its 30,000 workers and college students as
potential customers, is underway.

According to excerpts from the story:

Despite the dismal economy that has
been threatening the city for the past 18 months, downtown Grand Rapids
seems to be showing slow, steady growth in its retail sector. Anne
Marie Bessette, a development specialist with the Downtown Development
Authority, recently filed a report that showed 14 new businesses have
opened in the sector since September, while seven have closed or moved.

"To have a net growth of seven downtown businesses is great,"
said Mayor George Heartwell, especially in light of the current
economic conditions.

Of the 14 that have opened, six are
located on South Division Avenue. Four more have leased storefronts on
Monroe Center, downtown's main street. Three of the new businesses
replaced ones that closed. Three others to new locations downtown. Two
moved outside of the district. And one that relocated, Herkner
Jewelers, will be replaced this fall with a new Mexican restaurant,
Cinco de Mayo.